DAVID DECLARES IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS Devotion 13 of 28 The believing mentioned in our text ("but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly") is founded upon the testimony of the Gospel, not tangible evidence. Neither, indeed, is it founded upon logic, or human reasoning. Such believing is not based upon apologetical arguments, like the ontological, teleological, and philological arguments. All of those seem impressive, but none of them has even released the power of God "unto salvation' – not a single one of them! – Tomorrow:
"But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 'Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin." (Romans 4:5-8, NKJV)
While this is unusually simplistic, it eludes the flesh. God has, in fact, withdrawn the primary evidence, which is Jesus Christ the Lord. He has moved Him beyond the reach of natural senses, and outside the realm of fleshly experience. Unless a person believes what God has said about Jesus, there is nothing else that will confirm the truth of the Gospel. The message of the Gospel cannot be confirmed apart from Divine affirmation.
Allow me to elaborate again on this pivotal point. It is essential that we take hold of this with our hearts as well as our minds. Think of what God has affirmed concerning Jesus Christ.
1. He is God's "only begotten Son" (John 1:18).
2. He was "in the form of God," and on "equality" with God before coming into the world (Phil 2:6-8).
3. The sins of the world were laid upon Him (Isa 53:6).
4. He put away the sins of the world (Heb 9:26).
5. He reconciled the world to God (2 Cor 5:18-20).
6. He was made sin for us (2 Cor 5:21).
7. He was made a curse for us (Gal 3:13).
8. Through His death, He destroyed the devil (Heb 2:14).
9. He made peace through the blood of His cross (Col 1:20).
10. He blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us (Col 2:14).
11. He spoiled, or plundered, principalities and powers that once dominated the world (Col 2:15).
12. The Son volunteered to come into the world and accomplish what God desired (Heb 10:5-9).
13. God has exalted Jesus to His right hand, making angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him (1 Pet 3:22).
14. Jesus is now bringing many sons to glory (Heb 2:10).
15. He is now interceding for us (Heb 7:25).
16. He is the Mediator of the New Covenant, administering its promised benefits to believers (Heb 12:24).
These are the matters with which the Gospel deals. None of them can be confirmed by tangible evidence. None of them can be demonstrated on a flesh-and-blood level. There are no archeological finds that can confirm their truth. No Dead Sea Scrolls can support them. There is no relic that can prove they are true. The ONLY evidence of their truth is the Word of God. Even with that infallible word, men have great difficulty receiving their proclamation.
Further, if God had not revealed these things, it is utterly impossible that any man could ever have concluded them. There is no form of human reasoning that could have looked at the physical evidence of Christ's life and death and concluded these things happened. Yet, the destiny of every person hinges upon their reality. Any individual who is accepted by God is received upon the basis of their reality.
Believing, in the sense of our text, is a persuasion that does not require tangible evidence. Faith does not require evidence or proof, but affirmation. It requires a word from God. Praise His holy name, He has given such a word – a word that is the very means through which faith is realized (Rom 10:17).
PRAYER POINT: Father, through Jesus Christ, I thank You for Your word – a word that declares a Savior from sin, and the means by which You receive sinners.